A spirited St George Illawarra lost 24-16 to the Raiders in Canberra on Sunday, but a big talking point will be the decision to award Xavier Savage a try in the 58th minute, when the home side led by only two points.
Dragons co-captain Damien Cook said even Raiders players were not convinced Savage had scored.
Kyle Flanagan passed the ball, Raiders centre Simi Sasagi appeared to knock the ball forward as it sailed over his head, then Savage caught it and raced the length of the field to score.
Sasagi’s touch was clear to see on the replay, which may have explained why players on both teams stayed at one end of the field.
Cooper Cronk said on the Fox commentary: “Yes, he [Sasagi] is facing the other way, but his hand touches the ball and it goes forward; that’s not a try.”
But bunker official Adam Gee did not intervene – the video referee can step in if they believe a blatant mistake has been missed – and the try was confirmed.
“It was pretty disappointing, and if I was to sum it up, even the Canberra Raiders team were pretty shocked by the decision,” Cook said.
“They didn’t even have a kicker down there.
“It’s not just us, the fans [are affected], they deserve better.
“I also thought Val [Holmes] was pushed in the back and that warranted a penalty [in the first half].”
Holmes was denied a try in the eighth minute when he failed to ground the ball, but only after he was shoved in the back by Savage.
That bunker decision frustrated Dragons coach Dean Young even more.
“I’m confused by that one,” he said. “When two people are competing for the ball, that’s when people are side by side. Savage was behind Val and shoves him in the back and the momentum stops Val from putting the ball down.
“I’m very disappointed in a couple of the bunker calls.”
The bunker denied Cook a try during Magic Round when he kicked the ball free from Penrith winger Brian To’o’s hands, which the NRL later confirmed was the wrong decision.
Although the Dragons continue to fight hard, they remain at the bottom of the ladder. Meanwhile, Young is doing everything in his power to convince club powerbrokers he warrants a permanent appointment as head coach.
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